Here's the Florida pumpkin secret nobody tells transplants: most of the pumpkins at Tampa patches aren't grown here. They're trucked in from out of state, set out on hay bales, and sold in church parking lots and farm fields for about five weeks. That doesn't make it less fun. It just means "pumpkin patch" in Tampa covers everything from a folding table in Seminole Heights to a full farm day in Odessa.
So the useful question isn't "which patch is best." It's "how much of a day do you want this to be?" This guide sorts the pumpkin patches in and around Tampa by area and by effort. Dates and prices are for 2026 and were checked in late September. Confirm before you go, since hours shift with weather and pumpkin supply.
If you're after corn mazes and harvest festivals more than pumpkins, see our Tampa fall festivals and corn maze guide. For costume events and trick-or-treating, there's our Halloween events for kids in Tampa.
Quick picks
| If you want... | Go to |
|---|---|
| A 30-minute photo stop in the city | Hyde Park Village or Seminole Heights |
| Free, near the water | St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch |
| Farm animals and a hayride without a long drive | Raprager Farms (Odessa) |
| A patch plus a real corn maze | Sweetfields Farm or Harvest Holler (see our fall festivals guide) |
| Cheapest farm day | Keel Farms Harvest Days (free entry, $10 parking) |
| Brandon or Riverview | Dave's Christmas Tree Lot or Wolfe's Produce |
Pumpkin patches in Tampa
Hyde Park Village Pumpkin Patch (South Tampa)
Village Circle fills up with pumpkins and photo setups each October. It's pretty, it's walkable, and there's coffee and lunch right there.
- When: About Oct. 10 to 25, 2026
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 3 to 6 p.m.; Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Prices: Minis and gourds $4, small $8, medium or large $14, Cinderella $19, extra large $25
- Where: 1602 W. Snow Ave., Tampa
- Extra: Hyde Park Pet Parade and live music on Oct. 24
Weekday afternoons are the quiet window. Saturday late morning is peak photo-shoot hour.
Seminole Heights Great Pumpkin Patch
A neighborhood favorite on Central Avenue with evening hours that work for after-school visits.
- When: Oct. 7 to 31, 2026
- Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 5 to 8 p.m., Friday 4 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday hours posted on the patch's page
- Where: 6111 N. Central Ave., Tampa
- Cost: Free to browse; pumpkins priced by size
Watermelon Swim pumpkin patches (five locations)
Watermelon Swim, the swim school, runs pumpkin patches at all five of its locations, including Lutz, South Tampa, Riverview, and Wesley Chapel. Pumpkin sales help support its programs for students with disabilities, which is a nice bonus.
- When: Oct. 2 to 31, 2026, daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Cost: Free to visit
The long daily hours make these the easiest pick for a weeknight run.
HorsePower for Kids Fall Fest (Northwest Tampa)
A weekend fall fest and fundraiser at HorsePower for Kids. Good for horse-crazy kids.
- When: Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 4 to Nov. 1, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $15 per person
- Where: 8005 Race Track Rd., Tampa
Brandon, Riverview and Plant City
Dave's Christmas Tree Lot Pumpkin Patch (Brandon)
The Christmas tree lot switches to pumpkins in October. Simple, central, and open into the evening.
- When: Oct. 1 to 31, 2026
- Hours: Monday to Friday 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Prices: Pumpkins from $4
- Where: 108 E. Lumsden Ave., Brandon
Wolfe's Produce Market (Riverview)
A produce stand with an all-sizes pumpkin patch, plus evening Halloween hayrides that are aimed at families, not scares.
- When: Pumpkin patch Sept. 26 to Nov. 1, 2026, daily from 9 a.m.
- Hayrides: Evenings, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., $10 per rider, 2 and under free
- Where: 6005 US Highway 301 S., Riverview
Keel Farms Harvest Days (Plant City)
Every October weekend, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission, $10 parking, and a $5 wristband for unlimited hayrides. There's a pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting and a small corn maze. More details in our fall festivals guide.
Where: 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City
North of Tampa: farm pumpkin patches
These are full-day trips with admission, animals, and play areas. Worth it for kids 3 and up. With a baby, one of the in-town patches is less work.
Raprager Farms Fall Pumpkin Festival (Odessa)
The closest "real farm" pumpkin patch to Tampa, about 30 minutes from downtown. Included activities cover hayrides, a petting zoo, a covered jumping pillow, a corn pit, a hay chute slide, a big wooden play fort, a passion-fruit maze, and pumpkin painting. There's a restaurant and shops on site, too.
- When: Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 18 to Oct. 25, 2026
- Cost: Tickets from $19
- Where: 16907 Boy Scout Rd., Odessa
Heads-up: Raprager also runs a haunted farm on fall evenings. Daytime is the family event. Check which ticket you're buying.
Sweetfields Farm (Masaryktown)
An organic vegetable farm with U-pick pumpkins, a corn maze, and farm animals, now in its 19th fall season. It runs Sept. 26 to Nov. 8, 2026, with weekday and weekend hours. Tickets are about $12 online and $14 at the gate, and weekends can sell out.
Where: 17250 Benes Roush Rd., Masaryktown (about 50 minutes north)
Other farm patches north of Tampa
- Harvest Holler (Polk City): Pumpkin patch plus a big corn maze. Sept. 18 to Nov. 15. $17 adults, $14 kids 2-12.
- HarvestMoon Fun Farm (Masaryktown): Sept. 26 to Nov. 8. $16.95 ages 3+.
- Dade City Farms: Weekends Sept. 26 to Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $12 ages 12+, $9 ages 3-12, 2 and under free.
- Pumpkin Patch at Masaryk Winery (Brooksville): Weekends Oct. 10 to 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free entry and parking, with pumpkin chucking on weekends.
St. Pete, Clearwater and Pinellas
- St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch: Oct. 9 to 25, 2026. Free to visit. A big pumpkin field right on the waterfront. Pair it with the St. Pete Pier Fall Festival on Oct. 10 and 11.
- Gallagher's Pumpkins (St. Pete): A nearly 40-year tradition at 7401 4th St. N. Opened Sept. 21 this year, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Heritage United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch (Clearwater): Oct. 10 to 31 at 2680 Landmark Dr. Weekday afternoons and all day Saturday.
- DK Farms and Gardens Farm Fest (Largo): Weekends Oct. 3 to Nov. 1. From $16. The closest farm-style patch for Pinellas families.
- Florida Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Fest (Largo): Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, with pumpkin carving and kids' activities.
More free Pinellas ideas are in our free things to do in St. Pete with kids guide.
South of Tampa
- Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival (Bradenton): The 35th year. Oct. 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $15 ages 10+, $5 ages 5-9, under 5 free. A big festival with food and live entertainment, about an hour from Tampa.
- Florida Railroad Museum Pumpkin Patch Express (Parrish): Oct. 17-18 and 24-25. A train ride to the museum's own pumpkin patch. Book ahead.
Which patch for which age
Babies and toddlers (0 to 3): Keep it short and close. Hyde Park Village, Seminole Heights, a Watermelon Swim location, or Dave's in Brandon. A wagon beats a stroller on hay and grass.
Preschoolers (3 to 5): Raprager Farms is the sweet spot. The corn pit and jumping pillow will get more attention than the pumpkins. Keel Farms is a cheaper alternative.
Big kids (6 to 12): Go for a farm with a real corn maze, like Sweetfields or Harvest Holler, and make a day of it.
Timing your visit
Time of season: Late September and the first two weekends of October have the best pumpkin selection and the smallest crowds. The last weekend before Halloween is packed and picked over, but festive.
Time of day: Go in the morning. Even in October, midday in Tampa is often in the upper 80s, and farm fields don't have much shade. Late afternoon is second-best and has the nicest light for photos.
Weather: Farms close for lightning and sometimes after heavy rain. Check their social media the morning of.
What to bring
- Sunscreen, hats, and more water than you think you need
- Closed-toe shoes (hay, sand, and the occasional fire ant mound)
- A wagon for little kids and for hauling pumpkins
- Cash as a backup; many farms take cards, but not every vendor does
- A towel or bag for the car, because pumpkins are dirtier than they look
- Wipes and hand sanitizer if you're visiting animals
Picking and keeping a pumpkin in Florida heat
Choosing one: Look for firm skin with no soft spots, a sturdy green-to-brown stem, and a flat bottom so it sits upright. Don't carry it by the stem.
Size for kids:
- Small (3 to 5 lbs): toddlers can carry it, good for painting
- Medium (8 to 12 lbs): the right size for kids to help carve
- Large (15 lbs and up): parents are doing the carving
Making it last: A carved pumpkin in Tampa often lasts only three to five days before it collapses. Buy close to when you'll carve, keep it in the shade or indoors, and paint it instead if you want it to survive until Halloween. An uncarved pumpkin kept out of the sun can last a few weeks.
More fall fun around Tampa
October is also when Tampa weather finally turns decent for outdoor plans. Our Tampa outdoor adventures guide and Tampa parks and playgrounds roundup are good places to start, and the Tampa weekend events page has more ideas for every weekend.
